Mobile communications device with a camera

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a mobile communications device with a camera, comprising a microphone ( 5 ), loudspeaker, display, keypad and camera. According to the invention the mobile communications device comprises at least two parts covering each other alternatively completely in the transport position of the camera or partly in the operational position of the camera so that when the parts ( 1, 2 ) cover each other in the transport position of the camera the lens ( 13 ) of the camera is protected, and in the operational position of the camera the lens ( 13 ) of the camera is exposed. Such a mobile communications device is easy to use and includes a protected lens ( 13 ) the protection of which is based on normal procedures carried out by the user of the mobile communications device when using the device.

The invention relates to a mobile communications device with a camera,which can be used, in addition to normal mobile telephone and datacommunications, to take photographs.

From patent document WO 96/38762 it is known a camera integrated into amobile communications device, wherein the lens of the camera is alwaysexposed like in a normal camera or is brought out from beneath a keypad,being thus protected when the camera is not in use. The lens is releasede.g. by moving or lifting the keypad and returned to its place at thesame time as the keypad is returned to its place.

A problem with the known devices is that an unprotected lens of a cameraintegrated into a mobile communications device is susceptible to dirtand scratches or a protected lens is difficult to bring out and returnto the storage position.

From the patent document U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,159 it is known anelectronic camera system wherein digital photographs taken with thesystem are wirelessly transmitted to many kinds of remote apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an ergonomic mobilecommunications device with a camera with which photographing is easy andwherein the lens of the camera is protected in such a manner that nospecial measures are required apart from the normal use of the mobilecommunications device to bring out the lens.

The objects are achieved using a construction not unlike the slidingcover in modern mobile communications devices, but at the same timedividing the mobile communications device into two roughly equal partswhich are slid as far apart as possible before use. Function keysadvantageously include at least three and not more than ten keys.Typical function keys include call start and end keys, arrow keys orcorresponding browsing keys and memory management keys. Function keysmay also include a known multifunction key.

The invention pertains to a mobile communications device with a camera,said device comprising a microphone, loudspeaker, display, keypad properand a camera, and the mobile communications device comprises at leasttwo parts covering each other alternatively completely in the transportposition of the camera or partly in the operational position of thecamera so that when the parts cover each other in the transport positionof the camera the lens of the camera is protected, and in theoperational position of the camera the lens of the camera is exposed.According to the invention an image can be projected through the lens ofthe camera and the display serves as a viewfinder for the camera bydisplaying the through the lens projected image to the user of thedevice and the lens of the camera is placed in the device essentially ona different side than the display.

In accordance with the invention, when the mobile communications deviceis opened so as to be employed in its proper use, the lens of the camerais brought out from between the parts of the device where it has beenwell protected from environmental effects such as dust and scratchingobjects. When in operational state, the mobile communications device canbe used for taking photographs preferably by pressing one function key.The display of the mobile communications device serves as a viewfinderwhen aiming the camera and when the shutter is released, where-after theimage is stored in memory and the picture in the viewfinder is fixed onthe display. The mobile communications device is also designed so as tohave a shape easy to grip so that when holding the mobile communicationsdevice in hand, one would not touch the lens of the camera. Preferredembodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a mobile communications device,

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of a mobile communications device according tothe invention, and

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a mobile communications device accordingto the invention.

FIG. 1 show a frontal view of a mobile communications device whichaccording to the invention has a camera lens depicted in FIG. 2 in therear. The mobile communications device comprises two parts, a radio part1 and a hand part 2 including the keypad proper. In FIG. 1A the mobilecommunications device is open in its operational position wherein thehand part 2 has been slid out from beneath the radio part 1. In FIG. 1Bthe mobile communications device is closed but can be used e.g. forcalls by means of the function keys. The mobile communications devicefurther comprises an internal antenna 3, radio part 4, microphone 5,loudspeaker 6, display 7, function keys 8, battery 10 and chargeinterface 11, which can be used also when the mobile communicationsdevice is closed in the transport position. In the operational position,also the keypad 9 proper can be used. Furthermore, the hand part 2 ofthe mobile communications device has a shape 12 that is easy to grip.FIG. 1A shows in dashed lines both the outlines of the parts 3, 4, 10inside the phone and the function keypad 8.

FIG. 2 show a rear view of a mobile communications device according tothe invention. In FIG. 2A the mobile communications device is open inits operational position wherein the lens 13 of the camera according tothe invention is exposed and ready to be used for taking photographs. Inthat state, the radio part 1 and hand part 2 have been slid as far apartas possible. A function key 8 is preferably utilized as a shutterrelease for the camera. In FIG. 2B the mobile communications device isclosed in its storage position and cannot be used for takingphotographs, but can be used for telephone calls by means of thefunction keys 8.

The location of the camera lens 13 on that side of the mobilecommunications device which is opposite to the display 7 makes itpossible for the user to view the object of the photographsimultaneously both naturally past the mobile communications device andon the display 7. This construction is also advantageous to manufactureas the rear side of the mobile communications device can be manufacturedusing a single mould and the camera unit can be easily installed on topof a parallel printed circuit board unit in the radio part 1 of themobile communications device. The lens 13 of the camera is wellprotected in the location described.

The battery 10 of the mobile communications device is located in thatpart of the mobile communications device which includes the keypad 9proper in order to place the center of gravity as low as possible tomake photographing easier in vertical position.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the essential parts of a mobilecommunications device according to the invention. Speech voiced into amicrophone 4 is taken by means of a transmitter 15 to a duplex switch 16and further to an antenna 17. Speech received by the antenna 17 is takenby means of a receiver 18 to a loudspeaker 19 to be heard. All functionsare controlled by a controller 20 connected to a keyboard 23 forproviding input. Such input includes e.g. the release of the shutter ofthe camera 22. Photographs taken with the camera 22 are stored in memory21 and shown on the display 24.

As an example, let us consider the use of the mobile communicationsdevice in photography. When the mobile communications device is intransport position, as depicted in FIGS. 1B and 2B, the user takes holdof the radio part 1 and hand part 2 and pulls the parts as far apart aspossible so that the mobile communications device preferably isactivated for dialing or photographing. Alternatively, the mobilecommunications device is activated for photography using a menu control.When photography is activated, the user sees the image of the viewfinderof the camera on the display 7 of the radio part 1 and can aim thecamera. The picture is taken by pressing a key 8, 9 on the mobilecommunications device so that said key in this mode functions as ashutter release button. The function of the key serving as a shutterrelease preferably depends on the mode of the mobile communicationsdevice and said key is located such that it is easily pressed e.g. witha thumb in order to take the picture. Such a key preferably belongs tothe function keys 8 in the mobile communications device described here,but in a device with different proportions it may also be locatedelsewhere, such as in the keypad 9 proper, where, however, it is easy touse considering the size of the device. The function of the key may bedifferent in call and photo modes but it may also vary within thosemodes. A key that functions permanently as a shutter release is alsopossible, but it cannot be used during normal mobile communications.

As the shutter is released the image in the viewfinder is fixed on thedisplay 7, showing the picture that was taken and stored preferably inthe device's own memory, but in principle it is possible to usealternatively or in addition separate additional memory in order toincrease the number of pictures that can be stored.

Pressing the shutter release button causes the camera to shake slightly,and to reduce blurredness caused by the shake the device waits for auser-selectable period of time after the shutter release button has beenpressed before storing the image in memory. Said delay can bemenu-selected preferably between 0 to 1 seconds at 200 ms steps.

Having pressed the shutter release button and when the image is fixed onthe display the photographer can check whether the picture is good, asregards e.g. the composition and lighting, and then either save thepicture or take a new one. The picture is stored in the memory of themobile communications device preferably in compressed format to savememory space; one such compression algorithm is the JPEG (JointPhotographers Experts Group) algorithm. A stored image can be furthertransmitted e.g. to a personal computer (PC) using an infrared or wirelink, to an electronic mail system or to another mobile communicationsdevice via air interface or to a fax machine, for example.

Stored images can be used in the mobile communications device e.g. in atelephone directory with pictures.

The implementati n is not described in greater detail here as a personskilled in the art can realize the arrangement according to theinvention on the basis of what has been disclosed above.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, butmany modifications are possible within the scope of the inventional ideadefined by the claims set forth below.

1. A mobile communications device with a camera, comprising a microphone(5), a loudspeaker (6), a display (7), keypad (9) proper, and a camera,and the mobile communications device comprises at least two parts (1, 2)covering each other alternatively completely in the transport positionof the camera or partly in the operational position of the camera sothat when the parts (1, 2) cover each other in the transport position ofthe camera the lens (13) of the camera is protected, and in theoperational position of the camera the lens (13) of the camera isexposed, characterized in that wherein an image can be projected throughthe lens (13) of the camera and the display (7) serves comprises as aviewfinder for the camera by displaying the through the lens projectedimage to the user of the device and the lens (13) of the camera isplaced in the device essentially on a different an opposite side thanthe display (7).
 2. The mobile communications device of claim 1,characterized in that wherein the device also comprises function keys(8) and the device can be used for telephone calls by means of themicrophone (5), the loudspeaker (6), the display (7) and the functionkeys (8) even when the lens (13) of the camera is covered.
 3. The mobilecommunications device of claim 1, characterized in that wherein theparts (1, 2) covering each other partly or completely move by slidingwith respect to each other.
 4. The mobile communications device of claim1, characterized in that wherein the part (2) including the keypad (9)proper of the mobile communications device has in it a shaped grip (12)to make it easier to hold holding the mobile communications device inhand when used for taking photographs.
 5. The mobile communicationsdevice of claim 1, characterized in that wherein a photograph is takenby pressing a button the function of which varies in accordance with theoperating mode of the mobile communications device.
 6. The mobilecommunications device of claim 1, characterized in that wherein thebattery (10) of the mobile communications device is located in that partof the mobile communications device which includes the keypad (9) properin order to place the center of gravity as low as possible to makephotographing easier in a vertical position.
 7. The mobilecommunications device of claim 1, characterized in that wherein picturesare being stored in the a memory (21) of the mobile communicationsdevice and the pictures are used in the mobile communications device ina telephone directory.
 8. A mobile communication device with a camera,said device comprising: a first part comprising a first face of thefirst part and a second face of the first part, said faces being onopposite sides of said first part, a second part comprising a first faceof the second part and a second face of the second part, said facesbeing on opposite sides of said second part, a display located on saidfirst face of the first part, a protectable camera lens for a camera,located on said second face of the first part, and a plurality of keysin a keypad located on said first face of the second part, wherein saidfirst and second parts are connected to each other.
 9. A mobilecommunications device according to claim 8, wherein said first and saidsecond parts are arranged slidably connected to each other.
 10. A mobilecommunications device according to claim 8, wherein the second face ofthe first part and the first face of the said second part are adjacentto each other.
 11. A mobile communication device according to claim 8,wherein said first part has essentially a geometric shape of arectangular prism.
 12. A mobile communications device according to claim8, wherein said second part has essentially a geometric shape of arectangular prism.
 13. A mobile communications device according to claim8 having a transport position and an operational position.
 14. A mobilecommunications device according to claim 13, wherein: in the transportposition, the second face of the said first part covers said keypad andthe first face of the second part covers said camera lens, and in theoperational position, said camera lens and said keypad are exposed. 15.A mobile communications device according to claim 8, wherein saiddisplay is arranged to serve as a viewfinder for the camera fordisplaying to a user of said communications device an image projectedthrough the camera lens.
 16. A mobile communications device with acamera, said device comprising: a first part comprising a first face anda second face, said faces being on opposite sides of said first part, asecond part comprising a first face and a second face, said faces beingon opposite sides of said second part, a display located on said firstface of said first part, a camera lens located on said second face ofsaid first part, and a plurality of keys located on said first face ofsaid second part, wherein said first and second parts are slidablycoupled to each other with said second face of said first part and saidfirst face of said second part adjacent to each other.
 17. A mobilecommunications device according to claim 16, wherein said first part andsaid second part essentially have the geometric shape of a rectangularprism.
 18. A mobile communications device according to claim 16,wherein: said second face of said first part covers said keypad and saidfirst face of said second part covers said camera in a transportposition, and said camera and said keys are exposed in an operationalposition.
 19. A mobile communication device according to claim 16,wherein an image can be projected through said camera lens and saiddisplay serves as a viewfinder for the camera by displaying a throughthe lens projected image to a user of the device.
 20. A mobilecommunications device according to claim 16, wherein the camera lens isprotectable by the second part.